The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-03-12

beautiful mansion for himself. nttie
less than forty years ago the house was
occupied by Mr.. John Arndt, and there
is no doubt but it is the same interesting
relic to-day that it was then A visit to
this house might then have given q very
correct insight into the luxuriant tastes
of this old man. 1t is very materially
changed, but enough Of the decorations
are preserved to satisfy the traveller that
nowhere in the State could be found
their equal. The walls Of the various
rooms were adorned with costly designs
in the order of their Importance. Some
had scenery paintings heightened into
most life-like perspectives of nature by
the harmony Of colors. Full-sized fig
ures in the art of falconry were repre-
scented of the hunter on his chase and
other such conceptions of baronial tastes.
Tablets of china most ingeniously
painted awakened curiosity; and the
jambs in the house were not the least
study The side-place of the doors and
the side-pieces of the fire-hearths were
of most mechanical continuance.
Though Baron Stiegel had this beau
tiful chateau at Mannheim, he resided in
Philadelphia most of his time. He was
lordly gentleman, and perhaps the
very first citizen of that city to have
the additional luxury Of a country-seat.
His family stood well in society, and it
is altogether probable that If his tastes
were SO extravaganza among the plain
country people, that they would have
had greater vanity of display in the
proud city. Anyhow, he made frequent
excursions into the country to visit his
country seat. Often he would go to
look after his iron interests, and more
especially to adjust matters in his glass
mandatory at Mannheim, also to ex-
anime into the progress Of things on his
farms and lands, but he came most fire.
quently on mere pleasure excursions.
He then was attended by a large COM
pany Of his particular friends and lit
tie band of expert servants. He trav-
eled like o prince. Though it was
altogether an ancient outfit, yet his
livery was perfect. His ponderous We
hicles were drawn by heavy arch-necked
stceds, and his lackeys ministered to
every want of man and beast His
coming was always looked forward to
with joyful anticipations, both at Shaef-
erstown and Mannheim, though it never
was certain arrangement. His adj
vent was the occasion of holiday and
of feasting, and none of the employees
were sighted in the festal celebration.
| Now the use of these castles or towers
come into play here. There were two
of them--one erected at Shaeferstown,
as already indicated, and another near
Mannheim. They were constructed OF
stone out of the mountains and occupied
the loftiest spot of the whole range.
The erection of them was entirely under
the supervision of the Baron himself
and when they had reached their COM
pletion one could see from their lofty
outlook the country around for miles
, and miles. The weird-like stony struc-
lures upon those heights gave the quiet
valleys below the apparent aspect OF
feudalism, but "Thurm-Berg." for its
liberal and eccentric founders sake,
was the signal of hilarity and prosperity
to the inland people. Those towers
were mounted with cannon for the ex-
press purpose Of firing salute when
ever the inflated nabob would make his
appearance in the country. A watch
man would observe his coming, and
then from the mountain heights there
would thunder the lannon's roar and
! all the inhabitants from near and faI
: would startle to their feet and shout
Baron Stiegel is comingr' They would
rush out to view the pageantry upon the
highway, and the lordly master would
invite and welcome all to his tower.
At Mannheim this salute created still
. greater excitement, for there was hi
! palace and his little army Of employees
1t was a pleasant episode in the ever
, rut of their lives, and the little village
was as much astir upon that occasion
/ as it would now be upon the arrival o
the grandest menagerie. When tn
festivities on .sThurm-B Berg" were gon'
i through with, the equipages wendet
i their way southwark for Mannheim
! The furnaces were stopped and tn
! glass houses were shut up for the on
!, grand celebration of Stiegel's arrival
: The workmen washed the SCOT from
/. their faces, donned their best garment
q and took their musical instruments Il
: repair to the castle and thence to tn
: mansion. From the kitchen came VI
! the steaming roasts and dishes Of poul
+ try, and from the cellar the fines
v brands of foreign drinks, and SO, lik
4 in some palace Of Scottish chief, the
\ sat down to the feast. As the win
poured out and the glasses clanked 8
Is necessarily, the toasts became mos
e fiattering to Stiegel's baronial hosp
!; tality. The instruments rang out swee